Fence post



, Z 4 ab, 4 g z z E z z C v. Q. w 0 Mm @5 w &c w 4 wfi A W 4 5% June1932- H. c. DREIBUSS ET AL FENCE POST Filed Nov. 6, 1951 Patented June28, 1932 TES UNETEE PATENT @FFEQE HARRY C. DREIBUSS AND PAUL J.MCCULLOUGH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR-S TO SCULLIN STEEL 00., OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CGRPORATION OF DELAEVARE FENCE POST Applicationfiled November 6, 1931. Serial No. 573,380.

T his invention relates to fence posts, and is illustrated as embodiedin a post having a substantially V-shaped cross-section, and havingflanges at the lateral edges, a slight concentration of metal along thehorizontal center or vertex, and horizontal ribs spaced vertically alongthe center line to act at once as fence supporting lugs and as annularreinforcements, or to prevent the spread or cave-in of the legs.

Numerous objects are accomplished by this invention. A post made inaccordance with this invention closely approaches the best possible useof the metal, for while using a minimum of metal, it is able to resisteX- tremely severe forces exerted on it in any direction, and it isbelieved that even considering its poorest angle of attack it isstronger per unit of metal than any post heretofore known which was ofsuch cross-section, as to render its manufacture by rolling practicable.

In addition, the fence supporting lugs which formerly have been a. totalwaste, structurally speaking, have now been. made in the form oftransverse, horizontal ribs extending around and beyond the angle of thepost, whereby the post greatly strengthened by preventing the spread orcave-in of the side flanges of the post. An anchor is provided and soarranged that welding is feasible, and the strength of attachment is fargreater than is necessary to withstand all forces likely to be exertedon the anchor.

ith these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operatic-n, as will bemore fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawing and claims appended hereto.

1n the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device, andwherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the post showing the ancaor partiallyattached;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the line 3-3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4: is a view showing the entire fence post drawn to a. smallerscale; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the line 55 ofFigure 1.

Although this invention may take many forms, only one has been chosenfor illustration. In this form, the fence post proper is designated bythe numeral 10, and the anchor plate by the reference numeral 12. Thefence post without the anchor, and except for the ribs, is of uniformcross-section, although of course it is pointed at its bottom end, asshown in Figure 1. This crosssection is shown best in F igure 3, inwhich it may readily be seen that the fence post includes side members14-, which in the cross section are the legs of the V. Along the lateral edges of the side members 1e are the flanges 16, which lie in aplane at right angles to them, which may be said to be bisecting theangle of the post. As a matter of accuracy, however, the post has noangle, as the side members 14 are oined to a curved central portion 18.For the sake of convenience, this central portion will be called theangle or the angle portion of the post.

It should be noted that the cross-section of the fence post is for themost part of uniform thickness, but that the center portion 18 isslightly thickened, and this thickening, to gether with its being in theform of a rather Wide curve rather than slightly angular, provides aconcentration of metal along the angle of the post to give greaterrigidity against forces acting forwardly and backwardly on the post, andalso greater durability to withstand the forces exerted by a hammerdriving posts into the ground. The flanges 16 not only provide aconcentration of metal at the back of the post, to resist the samebending forces as those resisted by the cent al portion 18, but alsostrengthen the post against lateral forces, that is, forces at rightangles to those described. In other words, it

may be said that the flanges 16 considered together, form compressionalmembers corresponding to the tensional member 18, or vice versa,depending on whether the pressure is forward or back. Likewise, if thepressure is lateral, the flanges 16 alternatively act as equalcompressional and tensional members.

The structure thus far described, is uni form throughout the length ofthe post above the pointed portion. In addition to this uniformstructure there are provided a plurality of vertically spaced ribs 20,as shown,-each of these ribs being thin vertically speaking, butlonghorizontally, so that they-extend around and beyond the angle or centralportion 18 of the post. These ribs 20' have a dual function, for theyserve both as a means for supporting the fence, and as a means forangularly reinforcing the; post. .By: angular reinforcement is not meanta mere reinforcing of the post against crushing blows, which of coursewould be extremely rare. Itinvolves also the more important function ofstrengthening the post in resisting bending in any direction, bypreventing the angle from spreading or cave-in.

In order that the fence post maybe more securely held in the ground,theanchor plate 12 is provided. This anchor plate is attached in a novelmanner, best illustrated in Figure 4. As indicated in that figure, theanchor plate is oined to the post at two points, 22 and 23. Atpoint22thejoint has been shown as complete,'while at the point 23 the step ofwelding has not been performed and the joint is therefore incomplete. Incommercial practice, bot-lrpoints could be welded simultaneously bymachine. Prior to welding the a11- chor platel2 is punched at bothpoints to the shape shown at 23. As clearly sh0wn,;portions 24 arepressed down to form a guard for the welding process, leaving a holethrough which the molten metal may contact thefence post, or preferablyone of the fence post ribs. The plate is then arc-welded to the post at.each of these points, the hole and space withiirtlie guards preferablybeing filled with metal'to'. give an integral structure, such as shownat22. As the fence post and its anchor thusbeco'me one integralstructure,-the attachment of the anchor is extremely strong and durable.One evident advantage of placing the anchor in theposition shown isthata rock or earth wedged betweenthe anchor and the side can lock the postagainst all lateral movement except in a single direction. The newfeatures of welding'help make this arrangement possible.

It is to be understood that many other embodiments of the invention,including some in improved form, will be apparent, and in the course oftime more will be devised'by those skilled in the art. It is not desiredthat this invention be limit-edtothe details described,.for its scopeincludes all such'forms or improvements as come within the spirit ofthefollowing claims, construed .as broadly as the nriorart will permit.

'lVhat is claimed is: 1. A fence post, the cross-section of which is ofV type and nearly uniform in thickness, a plurality of tiin,horizontally extending ribs spaced at short intervals along the angle ofthe post and extending around and beyond said angle, whereby said postis angularly reinforced; the basic angle portion, disregarding the ribs,havinga vertical section avhich is substantially straight anduninterrupted throughout its length.

2. A rolled metallic fence post having a cross-section of the V type andcomprising -=a -.pair of angularly disposed side members joined by acontinuous, longitudinally uniform angle portion, said angle portionbeing angularly reinforced by solid spaced, thin horizontally extendingand outstanding ribs connecting said side members.

3. A'rolled metallic fence post of the V type-in cross-section,comprisin a pair of angularly disposed side members, a flange 1tending'from the outer edge of and disposed atan angle to each of saidside members, all

of said members being of substantially uniform at'hickness and alongitudinally uniform central angle portion connecting'said sidemembers in a wide curve, said angle portion being only slightly thickerthan saidside members, and a plurality of solid thin horizontallyextending ribs projecting perpen- -dicularlyfrom'the front of said angleport1on to support a fence, said ribs extending around and beyond saidangle portion to-reinforce the same.

'5. A fence post comprising a rel-led metal- 110 column of V shape incross-section, and an anchor integrally oinedto the angular portion ofsaid post and extending from said post in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the bisector of the angle of the V.

6. A rolled metallic fence post of V type in cross-section having fencesupporting lugs on itsangle portion and having a substantiallyflat'anchor extending from said post: in a plane perpemlicularto thebisector of the angle of the v resting against some of said lugs andintegrally secured to saidzfence post.

7. An angular type of fence post having longitudinal side'portions'and alongitudinally continuous angle portion andhaving solid integral fencesupporting lugs extending outwardly from said angle portion and beinglaterally extended beyond said angle portion and integrally joined tosaid side portions at spaced points to angularly reinforce said post.

8. An angular type of fence post the side portions of which extend inplanes which intersect at approximately right angles, said post beingreinforced longitudinally by flanges extending along the outer edges ofsaid side portions, and being reinforced angularly by solid fencesupporting lugs formed along and outstanding on the joint between saidside portions, and connecting said said portions.

9. A rolled metallic fence post having a cross-section of the V type andcomprising a pair of angularly disposed side members joined byacontinuous, longitudinally uniform angle portion, said angle portionbeing reinforced by solid spaced, thin, horizontally extending andoutstanding ribs connecting said side members, and an anchor memberintegrally secured to said lugs at points laterally spaced at leastthree times the thickness of said side members.

10. An angular fence post having an anchor plate integrally joined tothe angle portion of said post along a zone extending laterally at leasttwice the minimum thickness of the anchor plate, said plate beingsubstantially flat and arranged approximately perpendicularly to thebisector of the angle.

11. A fence post comprising a rolled metallic column of V shape incross-section, and an anchor rigidly secured to the angular portion ofsaid post and extending therefrom in a plane perpendicular to thebisector of the angle of the V; the space between the anchor and thepost being unobstructed except at and close to the angle portion.

12. A fence post comprising a rolled metallic column of V shape incross-section, and an anchor rigidly secured to the angular portion ofsaid post and extending therefrom in a plane perpendicular to thebisector of the angle of the V; and separated from said angle portion bylugs adapted on other parts of the post to engage a fence.

13. A fence post having a center portion and two side portions extendingoutwardly therefrom in planes at angles to the general plane of saidcenter portion, and an anchor plate rigidly secured to the centerportion, and extending away therefrom at an angle to the adjacent partsof the post; said anchor plate and each side portion being remote fromone another at their outer edges and forming a deep unobstructed channelbetween them.

14:. A fence post having a center portion and two side portionsextending outwardly therefrom in planes at angles to the general planeof said center portion, and an anchor plate rigidly secured to thecenter portion, and extending away therefrom at an angle to the adjacent parts of the post; said anchor plate and each side portion beingparallel and remote from one another at their outer edges and forming adeep unobstructed channel be tween them.

15. A rolled metallic fence post having a cross-section of the V typeand comprising a pair of angularly disposed side members joined by acontinuous, longitudinally uni form angle portion, said angle portionbeing reinforced by solid spaced, thin, horizontally extending andoutstanding ribs connecting said side members, and an anchor memberintegrally secured to said lugs at points laterally spaced at leastthree times the thickness of said side members, said anchor beingsubstantially fiat and resting against the outside of some of said lugsto secure maximum spacing between the plate and the side members.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 30th day of October, 1931.

HARRY C. DREIBUSS. PAUL J. MOCULLOUGH.

